Restoration of historic Raglan Gatehouse set to star on top TV shows

This gatehouse was the main entrance into Raglan barracks and sold-off by the MoD in 1991 (Image: Penny Cross)

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It’s been derelict for years and was once nearly demolished but now the historic Raglan Gatehouse is to be transformed into plush flats at a cost of more than £500,000 – and could star in a national TV series.

The Grade II listed building, near Plymouth Albion’s Brickfields stadium at Devonport, has been bought by a company set up by a trio of experienced property experts for a bargain £120,000.

They are planning to spend between £450,000 and £600,000 to transform the structure into four or six up-market apartments, with he aim of renting them to the Ministry of Defence for high-ranking naval officers to use.

Raglan Gatehouse Development, the special purpose company set up just to work on the project, wants to submit plans this summer with the hope of starting work on the 13,500sq ft pile in 2020.

Guardhouse Gate at Raglan Barracks

Though the stonework is sound the building is close to being a ruin and has no roof, so it will take about a year to restore the building and convert it.

And that work could end up on screen with the firm behind the scheme in talks with Channel 4 TV shows Grand Designs and The Restoration Man.

“Both have said they will cover it,” said Emma Morby, one of the directors of Raglan Gatehouse Development. “We will probably go with The Restoration Man because they have more experience.”

Plymouth's heritage in the news

The barracks were demolished in the late 1960s and early 1970s to be replaced with private sector and public housing, leaving just the gatehouse remaining. The structure was granted listed status in 1975, before being sold by the MoD in 1991 and has been in private ownership since.

However, previous owners have struggled to revamp the building and in 2002 there was even an attempt to demolish the structure and replace it with houses, but this was thrown out by planners.

Miss Morby said the plan now is to “restore the building so it looks like it used to, but with a slightly modern twist”.

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She said her firm is working with English Heritage on a proposal which would see the structure house two- and three-bedroom apartments. That could be six flats or four with two being duplexes, she said.

But it needs serious work and Miss Morby said: “It has no roof and trees growing out of it – it’s a ruin.

“Structurally it’s sound, it’s solid stone, but it has no floors. We would probably drop in a wood frame internally.

“It also has granite staircases and some spectacular features.”

“We think it will cost about £450,000 to £600,000 to renovate it, but we have that money.”

Raglan Gatehouse

The company also has the expertise. Working alongside Oxford-based property company owner Miss Morby are Jonathan McDermott, a Portsmouth-based planner, and Trevor Walker, an investor from Singapore.

The trio have been involved in the restoration of several former military buildings around the UK.

They have already met with English Heritage chiefs and Plymouth city planners are expect to submit plans within six weeks.

If permission is achieved work could start in 2020 and Miss Morby said: “To restore the building we estimate will take about 12 months. Boarding will go up in the next four to six weeks.”

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The Gatehouse has had a chequered recent history and was auctioned in 2004, but failed to meet the £185,000 guide price.

The following year it went on sale again, this time for £200,000.

In 2015 its owners were ordered by Plymouth City Council to give the down-at-heel building a spruce up.

In 2018 it was again put on sale, this time for a bargain £150,000 – but sold for less.

Miss Morby said she and her business partners heard about the building “on the grapevine” and added: “As soon as the three of us saw it we decided to buy it. It’s not often you come across a military building for sale.

“Now we can’t wait, we are really excited about this project.”

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Designed by Royal Albert Hall architect Captain Francis Fowke, the property is believed to have been built in the mid-1850s at the time of the Crimean War and named after Lord Raglan, one of the conflict’s Allied Commanders.

On passing through the Gateway, the immediate view would have been an enormous parade ground, with army buildings around the perimeter.

The building comprises an arched entrance gateway and two former guards houses, one on each side.

The exterior design includes single storey former accommodation with a central square clock tower. There is a central vaulted archway for carriages flanked by lower vaulted pedestrian passages.

The front and rear elevations are identical, each with a rounded central archway fronted by a pedimented tetrastyle Tuscan portico on pedestals, incorporating a Royal Coat of Arms.

The barracks were designed to accommodate two entire regiments in transit for operations overseas.

The barracks were built in the colonial style with flat roofs and verandas. The site was first occupied by the 96th Regiment of Foot in December 1858.

It has hosted a number of royal visits – in 1887 the Prince of Wales attended Raglan Barracks for the changing of the colours ceremony for the 2nd Battalion Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry and, in 1895, the Duke of Cambridge visited to present new colours to the 2nd Battalion of the Somerset Light Infantry.

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